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Mali Presidential elections 2013: Initial results expected Tuesday
The first official results from Mali’s elections were expected Tuesday after a strong turnout Sunday for a vote that was the first since a military coup in March 2012 that has left the country leaderless and racked by violence for more than a year.
Full provisional results are not expected until Friday, the country’s director-general for territorial administration told state television late on Monday.
Former Malian prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s campaign team said on Monday its results put Keita in a strong lead and in reach of outright victory in Mali’s elections, but rivals said they were sure a run-off vote would have to be held.
A run-off would take place on August 11 if no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote.
The statements came ahead of official tallies from Sunday’s vote. A robust turnout showed how eager Malians were to turn the page on more than a year of turmoil, war and an army coup.
“We have information coming from our own teams … that show we are well ahead and a first round victory is in reach,” said Mahamadou Camara, a spokesman for Keita, who is universally known by his initials, IBK.
Keita’s rivals, who include ex-finance minister Soumaila Cisse, Modibo Sidibe, a former prime minister, and Dramane Dembele, the candidate of Mali’s biggest party, said they were sure a second round would be needed.
Cisse, seen as Keita’s strongest challenger, said he had flagged concerns over preparations ahead of the vote and would contest the results if there was no run-off called.
The vote was the first since a coup in March last year led to the occupation of Mali’s north by al-Qaeda linked Islamist insurgents.
Local newspapers lauded the vote on Monday morning, saying the turnout was “exceptional”.
“There were women, old people, blind people. Everyone wanted to vote,” said Mariam Diallo-Drame, a youth leader who had encouraged people to take part in the election.
“This is the first time ever we had a truly democratic election. We have never seen that in Mali…We understood what happens if we don’t fulfill our obligations. People are saying it is now up to the politicians to understand,” she said.
However, the candidates — 26 men and one woman — are known quantities and few expect the kind of radical overhaul of Mali’s political class that many say is necessary.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press